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Nagano Prefecture

3 temples · 8 shrines

Nagano Prefecture (長野県) is in Japan’s Chubu region, in the center of Honshu. Known for the Japanese Alps, historic Zenko-ji Temple, and mountain towns like Matsumoto and Karuizawa, it is a popular area for nature, pilgrimage, and seasonal travel.

Events in Nagano Prefecture

Cities & Wards

Top places to visit in Nagano Prefecture

All places in Nagano Prefecture

A ranked guide to standout temples and shrines for planning a meaningful visit.

1
Saiko-ji
Location: Nagano
Opens at: Opens 09:00
Goshuin: Goshuin
Saikōji, also known as Karukayasan Saikōji, is a Buddhist temple in Nagano City. It preserves the traditional practice of etoki, illustrated storytelling about Buddhist teachings, including the Karukaya Dōshin–Ishidōmaru family tale and the Ten Kings of the...
Why you should go
Call ahead to book the etoki (illustrated storytelling) performance, as the temple accepts visitors by appointment only and can accommodate as few as one person.
If you speak Japanese or travel with a Japanese speaker, ask the temple staff about arranging an etoki performance at an off-site location.
Plan your visit on a weekday morning if possible, since the temple operates by appointment and weekday slots are less likely to be booked by tour groups.
Address: 1398 Kitaishidōchō, Nagano, Nagano 380-0826, JapanWebsite Phone: +81 26-226-8436
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Temple
2
Hotaka-Jinja Okunomiya
Location: Matsumoto, Nagano
Opens at: Opens 06:00
Goshuin: Goshuin
Hotakajinja Okunomiya stands beside Myojin Pond in Kamikochi, at the foot of the Northern Alps. Dedicated to HotakaminoMikoto, it is revered as the guardian of the Japanese Alps and protector of travel by land and sea. The quiet mountain setting adds to its...
Why you should go
Visit between November and April is not possible due to seasonal closure, so plan your trip for May through October when the shrine is open.
Pay the 500 yen admission fee (200 yen for children) to access Myojin Pond, which sits directly beside the shrine and is considered sacred.
Bring sturdy hiking boots or trail shoes rather than casual sneakers, as the 3.5km walk from Kappa Bridge along the Azusa River involves uneven terrain and can be muddy depending on recent weather.
Address: 4468 Kamikochi, Azumi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-1520, JapanWebsite Phone: +81263952430
View details
Shrine
3
Chokoku-ji
Location: Nagano
Goshuin: Goshuin
Chōkokuji (長國寺) is a Buddhist temple in the Senzoku area of Taito City, Tokyo. Set within an urban neighborhood, it serves as a local place of Buddhist worship and a useful cultural stop for visitors exploring the area's community temples and everyday...
Address: 1015-1 Matsushiromachi Matsushiro, Nagano, 381-1231, JapanWebsite Phone: +81 3-3872-1667
View details
Temple
4
Togakushi Jinja Chusha
Location: Nagano
Goshuin: Goshuin
Chusha is the central shrine of the Togakushi Shrine complex in Nagano, set on the wooded slopes of Mount Togakushi. It is a major Shinto site linked to mountain worship and Togakure ninja legends, and serves as a key stop for visitors exploring the area.
Why you should go
Mount Togakushi ranks among Japan's 200 most famous mountains and is part of the Five Mountains of Northern Shinshu, standing 1,904 meters high within Myōkō-Togakushi Renzan National Park.
Chusha sits at the center of five shrines scattered across Mount Togakushi, connected by paths lined with towering Japanese cedar trees. The mountain's name means 'hiding door,' from the myth where a deity threw Amaterasu's cave door here.
The hike from Chusha to the summit shrine involves technical climbing with chains, ladders, and a section called 'Ant Tower/Sword Blade' where the ridge narrows to a knife edge at 1,842 meters elevation.
Address: Chūsha-3506 Togakushi, Nagano, 381-4101, JapanWebsite Phone: +81 26-254-2001
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Shrine
5
Zenko-ji
5.0(1)
Location: Nagano
Goshuin: 1 Goshuin
One of Japan's most important Buddhist temples, founded in the 7th century. Houses the first Buddhist statue brought to Japan, a hidden Amida Buddha triad. Famous for its nonsectarian approach, welcoming all visitors regardless of sect or gender.
Address: 491-i Motoyoshicho, Nagano, Nagano 380-0851Website Phone: +81 26-234-3591
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Temple
6
Fukashi Jinja
4.5(2)
Location: Matsumoto, Nagano
Opens at: Opens 09:00
Goshuin: 1 Goshuin
Fukashijinja is a large Shinto shrine in Matsumoto, Nagano, dedicated to Suwamyojin (deity of wind, water, and agriculture) and SugawaranoMichizane (deity of learning). Known as the "Tenjinsama of Fukashi," it hosts the famous Tenjin Matsuri festival each...
Why you should go
Take the 10-15 minute walk east from Matsumoto Station along Agata-no-mori street, then turn south at the Miyamura-machi traffic signal just before the Performing Arts Centre.
Plan your visit for July to experience the Tenjin Matsuri, when 16 elaborately decorated floats from local neighborhoods are displayed at the shrine and paraded through the streets.
Arrive early on weekdays or outside festival season to enjoy the shrine's quiet, spiritual atmosphere without tourist crowds. Several visitors noted the shrine feels peaceful and contemplative when you're not competing with tour groups, making it easier to appreciate the ornate painted carvings and statues.
Address: 3-chome-7-43 Fukashi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0815, JapanWebsite Phone: +81 263-32-1214
View details
Shrine
7
Yohashira Jinja
4.0(1)
Location: Matsumoto, Nagano
Goshuin: Goshuin
A central Shinto shrine in Matsumoto, Yōhashira Jinja sits beside Nawate Street near Matsumoto Castle. It is known for blessings of good fortune, matchmaking, and family harmony, and hosts a major annual autumn festival with wooden floats.
Why you should go
Built in just nine days before the Emperor's 1879 visit, the shrine burned down nine years later in a fire that devastated central Matsumoto. The current buildings weren't completed until 1924.
Unlike most Shinto shrines dedicated to a single deity, Yohashira enshrines four gods at once, including the sun goddess Amaterasu and three creation deities, earning it the nickname 'Wish-Granting Shrine.'
The annual October festival features elaborately decorated wooden floats (butai) designated as Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties, parading through streets while musicians perform aboard the moving platforms.
Address: 3-chōme-3-20 Ōte, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0874, JapanWebsite Phone: +81 263-32-1936
View details
Shrine
8
Suwa Taisha Shimosha Harumiya
Location: Suwa, Nagano
Goshuin: 1 Goshuin
A historic Shinto shrine in Shimosuwa, Nagano, and one of the four main shrines of the Suwa Taisha complex. Set near the Togawa River, it is known for its quiet wooded grounds, seasonal rituals, and connection to the wider Lake Suwa shrine system.
Why you should go
The shrine sits beside the Togawa River and features a sacred Japanese cedar tree, blending so gradually into residential Shimosuwa streets that visitors say it 'emerges from ordinary town' rather than announcing itself.
Almost no historical documents from the Lower Shrine (which includes Harumiya) survived through the centuries. Nearly all records about Suwa Taisha come from the Upper Shrine across the lake.
Harumiya means 'Spring Shrine' because the deity traditionally resides here from February to July, then moves to nearby Akimiya (Autumn Shrine) for the rest of the year in a seasonal ritual unique to Suwa Taisha.
Address: 193 Daimon, Shimosuwa, Suwa District, Nagano 393-0092, JapanWebsite Phone: +81 266-27-8316
View details
Shrine

Nagano Prefecture throughout the year

Tokyo Prefecture69 temples · 152 shrines

Kyoto Prefecture76 temples · 45 shrines

Kanagawa Prefecture35 temples · 40 shrines

Wakayama Prefecture39 temples · 14 shrines

Saitama Prefecture31 temples · 15 shrines

Osaka Prefecture18 temples · 23 shrines

Nagano Prefecture

3 temples · 8 shrines

Events in Nagano Prefecture

Cities & Wards

Matsumoto

4 places

Nagano

4 places

Suwa

4 places

Top places to visit in Nagano Prefecture

All places in Nagano Prefecture

A ranked guide to standout temples and shrines for planning a meaningful visit.

1
Saiko-ji
Location: Nagano
Opens at: Opens 09:00
Goshuin: Goshuin
Saikōji, also known as Karukayasan Saikōji, is a Buddhist temple in Nagano City. It preserves the traditional practice of etoki, illustrated storytelling about Buddhist teachings, including the Karukaya Dōshin–Ishidōmaru family tale and the Ten Kings of the...
Why you should go
Call ahead to book the etoki (illustrated storytelling) performance, as the temple accepts visitors by appointment only and can accommodate as few as one person.
If you speak Japanese or travel with a Japanese speaker, ask the temple staff about arranging an etoki performance at an off-site location.
Plan your visit on a weekday morning if possible, since the temple operates by appointment and weekday slots are less likely to be booked by tour groups.
Address: 1398 Kitaishidōchō, Nagano, Nagano 380-0826, JapanWebsite Phone: +81 26-226-8436
View details
Temple
2
Hotaka-Jinja Okunomiya
Location: Matsumoto, Nagano
Opens at: Opens 06:00
Goshuin: Goshuin
Hotakajinja Okunomiya stands beside Myojin Pond in Kamikochi, at the foot of the Northern Alps. Dedicated to HotakaminoMikoto, it is revered as the guardian of the Japanese Alps and protector of travel by land and sea. The quiet mountain setting adds to its...
Why you should go
Visit between November and April is not possible due to seasonal closure, so plan your trip for May through October when the shrine is open.
Pay the 500 yen admission fee (200 yen for children) to access Myojin Pond, which sits directly beside the shrine and is considered sacred.
Bring sturdy hiking boots or trail shoes rather than casual sneakers, as the 3.5km walk from Kappa Bridge along the Azusa River involves uneven terrain and can be muddy depending on recent weather.
Address: 4468 Kamikochi, Azumi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-1520, JapanWebsite Phone: +81263952430
View details
Shrine
3
Chokoku-ji
Location: Nagano
Goshuin: Goshuin
Chōkokuji (長國寺) is a Buddhist temple in the Senzoku area of Taito City, Tokyo. Set within an urban neighborhood, it serves as a local place of Buddhist worship and a useful cultural stop for visitors exploring the area's community temples and everyday...
Address: 1015-1 Matsushiromachi Matsushiro, Nagano, 381-1231, JapanWebsite Phone: +81 3-3872-1667
View details
Temple
4
Togakushi Jinja Chusha
Location: Nagano
Goshuin: Goshuin
Chusha is the central shrine of the Togakushi Shrine complex in Nagano, set on the wooded slopes of Mount Togakushi. It is a major Shinto site linked to mountain worship and Togakure ninja legends, and serves as a key stop for visitors exploring the area.
Why you should go
Mount Togakushi ranks among Japan's 200 most famous mountains and is part of the Five Mountains of Northern Shinshu, standing 1,904 meters high within Myōkō-Togakushi Renzan National Park.
Chusha sits at the center of five shrines scattered across Mount Togakushi, connected by paths lined with towering Japanese cedar trees. The mountain's name means 'hiding door,' from the myth where a deity threw Amaterasu's cave door here.
The hike from Chusha to the summit shrine involves technical climbing with chains, ladders, and a section called 'Ant Tower/Sword Blade' where the ridge narrows to a knife edge at 1,842 meters elevation.
Address: Chūsha-3506 Togakushi, Nagano, 381-4101, JapanWebsite Phone: +81 26-254-2001
View details
Shrine
5
Zenko-ji
5.0(1)
Location: Nagano
Goshuin: 1 Goshuin
One of Japan's most important Buddhist temples, founded in the 7th century. Houses the first Buddhist statue brought to Japan, a hidden Amida Buddha triad. Famous for its nonsectarian approach, welcoming all visitors regardless of sect or gender.
Address: 491-i Motoyoshicho, Nagano, Nagano 380-0851Website Phone: +81 26-234-3591
View details
Temple
6
Fukashi Jinja
4.5(2)
Location: Matsumoto, Nagano
Opens at: Opens 09:00
Goshuin: 1 Goshuin
Fukashijinja is a large Shinto shrine in Matsumoto, Nagano, dedicated to Suwamyojin (deity of wind, water, and agriculture) and SugawaranoMichizane (deity of learning). Known as the "Tenjinsama of Fukashi," it hosts the famous Tenjin Matsuri festival each...
Why you should go
Take the 10-15 minute walk east from Matsumoto Station along Agata-no-mori street, then turn south at the Miyamura-machi traffic signal just before the Performing Arts Centre.
Plan your visit for July to experience the Tenjin Matsuri, when 16 elaborately decorated floats from local neighborhoods are displayed at the shrine and paraded through the streets.
Arrive early on weekdays or outside festival season to enjoy the shrine's quiet, spiritual atmosphere without tourist crowds. Several visitors noted the shrine feels peaceful and contemplative when you're not competing with tour groups, making it easier to appreciate the ornate painted carvings and statues.
Address: 3-chome-7-43 Fukashi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0815, JapanWebsite Phone: +81 263-32-1214
View details
Shrine
7
Yohashira Jinja
4.0(1)
Location: Matsumoto, Nagano
Goshuin: Goshuin
A central Shinto shrine in Matsumoto, Yōhashira Jinja sits beside Nawate Street near Matsumoto Castle. It is known for blessings of good fortune, matchmaking, and family harmony, and hosts a major annual autumn festival with wooden floats.
Why you should go
Built in just nine days before the Emperor's 1879 visit, the shrine burned down nine years later in a fire that devastated central Matsumoto. The current buildings weren't completed until 1924.
Unlike most Shinto shrines dedicated to a single deity, Yohashira enshrines four gods at once, including the sun goddess Amaterasu and three creation deities, earning it the nickname 'Wish-Granting Shrine.'
The annual October festival features elaborately decorated wooden floats (butai) designated as Important Tangible Folk Cultural Properties, parading through streets while musicians perform aboard the moving platforms.
Address: 3-chōme-3-20 Ōte, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-0874, JapanWebsite Phone: +81 263-32-1936
View details
Shrine
8
Suwa Taisha Shimosha Harumiya
Location: Suwa, Nagano
Goshuin: 1 Goshuin
A historic Shinto shrine in Shimosuwa, Nagano, and one of the four main shrines of the Suwa Taisha complex. Set near the Togawa River, it is known for its quiet wooded grounds, seasonal rituals, and connection to the wider Lake Suwa shrine system.
Why you should go
The shrine sits beside the Togawa River and features a sacred Japanese cedar tree, blending so gradually into residential Shimosuwa streets that visitors say it 'emerges from ordinary town' rather than announcing itself.
Almost no historical documents from the Lower Shrine (which includes Harumiya) survived through the centuries. Nearly all records about Suwa Taisha come from the Upper Shrine across the lake.
Harumiya means 'Spring Shrine' because the deity traditionally resides here from February to July, then moves to nearby Akimiya (Autumn Shrine) for the rest of the year in a seasonal ritual unique to Suwa Taisha.
Address: 193 Daimon, Shimosuwa, Suwa District, Nagano 393-0092, JapanWebsite Phone: +81 266-27-8316
View details
Shrine